﻿NINTH ANNUAL EEPORT 



of moths or butterflies. They are easily distinguished from the 

 latter, however, by never having less than six, and often as many as- 

 eight, pairs of prolegs ; whereas no true caterpillar has ever more 

 than five pairs. The prolegs also differ structurally in lacking the rim^ 

 of minute hooks which characterizes those of true caterpillars. The 

 perfect insects are termed Saw-flies, from the peculiar saw-like struc- 

 ture of the ovipositor, which will be more particularly referred to 

 further on. 



The species under consideration is one of the most destructive 

 members of the family, and though not so widespread as the Goose- 

 berry Span-worm, it is far more troublesome than any other currant 

 insect in most of the Eastern States. I have neither met with it, nor 

 been able to trace its occurence, with any degree of certainty, in 

 Missouri ; but as there is good evidence that it occurs already in Illi- 

 nois, and Mr. Jno. W. Byrket found it in 1870 around Indianapolis^ 

 Ind., I have thought best to forewarn and forearm those of our citizens- 

 who are interested in berry culture, by laying before them a full 

 account of it. 



ITS INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD. 



It first began to attract attention in this country around Roches- 

 ter, N. Y., about the year 1857 — the first explicit reference to it being 

 found in the Rural New Yorlier lor July 24, 18.58. It was generally 

 supposed to have been imported along with some gooseberry bushes 

 from Europe, by the celebrated Rochester nurserymen, Messrs. EU- 

 wanger and Barry : but Mr. Barry informed me, while at his beautiful 

 place in 1871, that it was first known to occur around Toronto, in- 

 Canada, before it appeared around Rochester. 



"In nine years time, besides colonizing in other directions, it had 

 gradually spread to Washington county, N. Y,, on the east side of the 

 Hudson River — a total distance of about 225 miles. Thus, as it appears^ 

 it traveled at the average rate of some twenty-five miles a year, 

 establishing a permanent colony wherever it went, and not passing 

 through the country as a mere moveable column of invaders. In 1860 

 or '61 it appeared at Erie, in the N. W. corner of Pennsylvania. In 

 1864 Prof. Wincheli found it at Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1866 it was 

 generally distributed over the N. E, counties of Pennsylvania. And, 

 judging from a conversation which we had in October, 1868, with Mark 

 Oarley, of Champaign, in Central Illinois, this gentleman must have 

 had it in great numbers upon his currant bushes in the summer of 

 that year. At all events he described the worm which had infested 

 his bushes as being green, with many black spots, and as not being a 

 looper. 



